IRAN

BUSH TRYING TO START ANOTHER RECKLESS WAR

This week we learned that President Bush has been actively misleading us on Iran — lying to get us into another reckless and disastrous war.

It was revealed that Bush has known for months that Iran has no nuclear weapons program. Bush said he "only learned of the new intelligence assessment last week." But according to The Washington Post, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said "Bush was first told in August or September about intelligence indicating Iran had halted its weapons program."

That means Bush has been ignoring the intelligence as he's saber rattled for months against Iran — recklessly pushing toward war with Iran like he did with Iraq. We can't afford to let Bush and Cheney start another disastrous war.

Congress must act now and make it clear that President Bush has no authority to strike Iran.

PRESIDENT BUSH LEADING AMERICA ASTRAY AGAIN

Why is it that President Bush did not reveal that Iran had suspended its nuclear arms activities in 2003?

It is hard to believe he had not been informed about this until recently. Is he being kept uninformed by his intelligence services? How incredibly and unbelievably inefficient. If Iran has indeed no active nuclear activity, how can President Bush justify his unchanging attempts to isolate Iran, rather than seek negotiations and detente?

Is he still so intent on pursuing a warlike policy that has been so disastrous in Iraq? Will he never learn? He is supposed to be the leader of our country. He is deliberately or misguidedly leading us astray again.

SERVICE CHANGES

THEBUS NOT TRUTHFUL TO 'AINA HAINA RESIDENTS

In his Nov. 26 letter on the change in 'Aina Haina bus service, J. Roger Morton accuses Lee Cataluna of misleading readers concerning our bus service. He asserts that slashing service to 'Aina Haina from three buses an hour to one is part of an "entire improvement plan." The number of Route 1 buses will also be reduced. Many riders will be forced to transfer and/or cross Kalaniana'ole Highway to make connections.

The city has been planning these bus changes for more than six months. In that time, not one person in 'Aina Haina was informed of the reduction in service. We have citizens who use the bus seven days a week and others who are avid walkers. Not one saw a flier or a posted sign.

Neither the Neighborhood Board nor the community association was notified. Seven supposed "community meetings" (sparsely attended, according to the Department of Transportation Services) and not one scheduled for 'Aina Haina, the most affected neighborhood.

Forgive us for questioning TheBus. Can we really rely on Mr. Morton's other data, given TheBus's failure to be truthful with our community? Simply put, the new plan will have fewer buses and more people crossing the highway.

Currently bus service in 'Aina Haina runs from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. The "improvement" ends bus service at 7:55 p.m. on weekdays, 6:52 p.m. on Saturdays, and 3:34 p.m. on Sundays.

It is ironic that the notice for the Oct. 31 public hearing (one attendee) that appeared in the legal section of the newspaper was termed in bold lettering as a "SERVICE REDUCTION." So be it.

ALA WAI

STATE WORKING TO FIX PROBLEMS AT HARBOR

You were good enough to publish a commentary I wrote in August regarding the sad state of affairs at Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor.

I was gratified that a number of citizens agreed with my view, that improvements were desperately needed if Ala Wai is to be a source of pride.

I was also pleased that in the months since the state has begun a series of immediate improvements — with plans for more — while at the same time introducing a modest increase in parking fees in the area as a needed source of funding.

I believe the problems of Ala Wai are being addressed in a deliberate and thoughtful manner by people who want to improve the harbor.

There are always those, of course, who vociferously want progress and improvements as long as they come at no cost to themselves. Thus, a relatively small and equitable parking fee is being described in the most lurid, rabble-rousing terms:

"Danger ahead!"

"Harbor users beware!" (of what?)

"Faceless bureaucrats" (nothing could be further from the truth)

"2100% increase!!"

That last alarmist statement describes a reasonable new parking fee of $35 a month. Guess what the old fee was? $1.67 per month. Enough said.

How can anyone expect even minimal maintenance — much less any improvements — with a fee structure like that?

I applaud the state for taking this big step toward restoring the Ala Wai — as well as other harbors around the state.

And I believe the improvements are being made with all deliberate haste.

FOOTBALL

UH GAMES DANGEROUS LOCATION FOR VISITORS

As a Washington Husky alumna and fan, I looked forward to attending the game last Saturday, despite reports of abusive behavior toward Fresno State fans two weeks earlier.

I sat in row 16 behind the Husky band. Before the game, staff and cheerleaders from the University of Hawai'i athletic department came by our section and welcomed us.

It was much appreciated, but I wish they had sat with us during the game to get an accurate picture of how visiting fans are treated: in a word, horribly.

Drunken UH fans came into our section at kickoff, yelling obscenities that can't be repeated here.

When several police tried to remove one of them, he shouted the same foul language at the officers. Did they eject him? Of course not.

Alcohol is at the heart of the problem; the parking lots should open later, and beer should not be sold inside.

Aloha Stadium should be renamed Abu Ghraib Stadium — it's an abusive and dangerous place for visitors.

Until Hawai'i fans learn to win with class, they will never be part of a premier program.

UH WARRIORS SHOWED CLASS ON NATIONAL TV

Here's another reason I root for the University of Hawai'i football team. Saturday night, as the team was just moments away from their victory over the University of Washington, the team was visited by the sideline ESPN camera.

The camera zeroed in on three members of the team. Did they spend that coveted national camera time thumping their chests? Did they praise themselves? Did they even whoop it up? No. Instead, at that moment, the greatest moment in Hawai'i football history, these young men (QB Colt Brennan and his receivers) put their thoughts elsewhere.

They showed the camera the backs of their helmets that displayed the "ST" decals they'd placed there in honor of slain Redskins player Sean Taylor, and then they pointed their fingers toward heaven. That's why I root for the Warriors.

OHIO STATE ALUMS HERE ALSO CHEER WARRIORS

It's a perfect end to college football's regular season for 125 or so members of The Ohio State University Alumni Club of Hawai'i. Our second favorite team (UH Warriors) went undefeated and is in a BCS game — plus our favorite team is playing in a BCS game as well. Thank goodness they are not playing each other.

Go Buckeyes! Go Warriors! Colt Brennan for Heisman!

BRONCOS FAN ROOTING FOR UH IN SUGAR BOWL

Let me express my heartfelt congratulations to June Jones and the Warriors for surviving the quarter from hell last weekend against the Huskies and being "this year's Boise State."

Your accomplishment is good for the WAC and good for our Broncos. The WAC can use all the respect and exposure we can muster, and we'll share in some of that Sugar Bowl money just as you did when we made it to the Fiesta Bowl last year.

Rest assured that I'll be glued to the TV and wearing green and black on Jan. 1. I see Vegas has you as 9.5 underdogs, but I know better. Just don't spot them 21 in the first quarter and you'll be just fine with your amazing talent and coaching staff.

Strength of schedule? Well, that's subjective, too, just like the entire BCS mess. Just imagine the buzz if the Warriors can knock off a team many believe is the best in the country, much like our Broncos pulled off the impossible against Oklahoma, finishing 13-0 last year.

The system is corrupt, unfair and needs to be fixed. A win will put us all one step closer to a true playoff. Go Warriors!

HAWAIIAN AIR

PASSENGER FELT LOSS OF ALOHA ON LOCAL AIRLINE

On Nov. 30, I was booked on a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Kahului to Honolulu that was scheduled to leave at 2:25 p.m.

Without any notice either via the holding area monitors or the airport PA system, my flight was canceled. I would not have known that except I asked a gate agent the status of my flight. She apparently had no idea that Hawaiian had begun canceling several Honolulu-bound flights. I was sent to a desk where two young women were working feverishly to find other flights for passengers. I was booked on a 5 p.m. flight.

For me, the delay was an inconvenience. I was coming home. There were many others with major headaches: the travelers who would miss their Mainland flights, the Lahainaluna fans who would miss the big game at Aloha Stadium, the family headed to an annual celebration in Waikiki, the auntie bound for a niece's performance at a local theater.

Hawaiian Airlines didn't even apologize. My sense was this "Hawaiian" airline had lost its sense of aloha and respect for its passengers. At least three flights were canceled that day, and several Maui employees told us that what happened to us was not out of the ordinary. We were all put on the same flight, a wide-bodied jet, which apparently was an aircraft flown to Maui to "accommodate" the several hundred passengers stranded by "Hawaiian" Air.

I have no plans to fly Hawaiian again.